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Enfranchisement, Political Participation and Political Competition: Evidence from Colonial India

Author

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  • Cassan, Guilhem

    (University of Namur)

  • Iyer, Lakshmi

    (University of Notre Dame)

  • Mirza, Rinchan Ali

    (University of Kent)

Abstract

We examine how political participation and political competition are shaped by two class-based extensions of the franchise in 20th-century India. Creating a new dataset of district level political outcomes between 1921 and 1957, we find that the partial franchise extension of 1935 resulted in significantly lower incumbency advantage, while the institution of universal adult suffrage in 1950 resulted in increased candidacy. Both these franchise extensions resulted in decreased voter turnout rates, suggesting that newly enfranchised voters are less engaged in the political process.

Suggested Citation

  • Cassan, Guilhem & Iyer, Lakshmi & Mirza, Rinchan Ali, 2020. "Enfranchisement, Political Participation and Political Competition: Evidence from Colonial India," IZA Discussion Papers 13476, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stern, Philip J., 2012. "The Company-State: Corporate Sovereignty and the Early Modern Foundations of the British Empire in India," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199930364.
    2. Lakshmi Iyer, 2010. "Direct versus Indirect Colonial Rule in India: Long-Term Consequences," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 92(4), pages 693-713, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kainuma, Shuhei, 2024. "Transition to broader-based politics: The role of suffrage extension in early 20th century Japan," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    democratization; colonial rule; India; franchise extension; political participation; political competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • N45 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Asia including Middle East
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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